Tuesday, May 21, 2013

"The first question which you will ask and which I must try to answer is this, "What is the use of climbing Mount Everest?" and my answer must at once be, "It is no use." There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever. Oh, we may learn a little about the behavior of the human body at high altitudes, and possibly medical men may turn our observation to some account for the purposes of aviation. But otherwise nothing will come of it. We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. It's no use. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."George Leigh Mallory, 1922

In a conversation I had yesterday, I got that there are two types of conversation one can have.

1. A conversation ABOUT stuff: We have those all the time. Descriptive conversations. They can be interesting boring/bland/informative and everything else that spectrum covers. There's a whole section in these type of conversations dedicated to just complaining.

2. A conversation with a COMMITMENT to something. they share many characteristics of the above with just one exception: The conversations you have are all aligned towards a particular outcome, goal or result.

Type 2 conversations are straight. often painfully blunt. There is no opportunity to waffle on, or disguise a situation as being different from anything it really is. Let me illustrate:

Sam is asked to share a post online by an agency. 6 hours later, an agency rep calls to find out if it has been done. Here's how the two different conversations could go:

Type 1:

Agency Rep: Hi Sam! Got a minute?
Sam: (Racked by guilt seeing as the task has not been done). Ok. Just be real quick...I'm kinda busy here
Rep: Sure. I just wanted to know if the link was shared.
Sam: That? Bana...I tried but the net has been acting up...si you jua how Safaricom has been acting up lately? Wacha I keep trying tu. Plus my workload is for 3 pundas on sedatives bana...you know how it is..
Rep: Ok..so when can I expect the shares to go up?
Sam: Erm.....lets give it another 24 hours like this..ama? Hoping Big Green and Kenya Powerless don't collaborative on an epic mindfuck. You know how it is...
REp: Ok Sam. We're counting on you
Sam: Sawa. I'm trying bana...I'm trying..

Type 2:

Rep: Hi Sam. Got a minute?
Sam: You have one minute. shoot.
Rep: Ok. Did you share the link?
Sam: No I did not. I said I would but I haven't.
Rep: Ok. Will you put it up?
Sam: Yes. I'll do it at 3.15 and call you at 3:20 for you to confirm.
Rep: Cool. Thanks.
Sam: Cheers.

See the difference?

I'm committed to having type 2 conversations. Straight. No drama. I don't have to make anyone wrong for anything. I am present to being that I am my word. When I honor my word, I honor myself.

The Bear. He speaks truth.

Type two conversations are about being in action in the areas of your life that matter to you. You are not resigned. You don't accept statements like "Well, that's just how it's always been." Type 2 conversations are about saying stuff like "I'm sick to death of reading stories about poaching of rhinos and elephants. I'm doing something about it. Because I said I would."

When we pray, we ask God to speak into our lives.

SPEAK into our lives...

SPEAK.

We ARE who we SAY we are.

And here's what you really want to get about that statement. Those declarations are not backed up by fact.They probably don't even agree with the current reality. They are an act of creation. They come into existence, as the world did, because they were spoken into BEING!

This is what I'm for then: I'm for learning how to have the conversations that get people into action. Today, that action is to click and share a link. Next time round, to move and shape destiny. To save a soul. A species. A world.

And my first lesson already is that I can't do it all alone. I have help from my spiritual source. And the source has led you here. So here is my invite to you.

"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know." Rene Daumal

Friday, May 17, 2013

Ello good people!I had an open invitation last week to join me in world domination and the development of truly excellent content. And y'all stepped up! First off the block is Fred from vistamediainc.com. This is his take on the current campaign. It's a departure from the standard fare here...more poetic no? Tell me what you think. Hit that comment button on the way out. And all the other links on this page as well (they pay the bills) Enjoy!

This way to the mountain! Er...don't forget your frilly underthings..

A story is told of two fearless warriors, fully armored and ready for battle, who slew the bite of cold wind, sharp rock and snow to shake hands on an extraordinary deal.

This deal would go into history books as the highest bounty exchange to go down in extremely harsh conditions.

Oh yeah, the environment was brass; an annoyed and angry face of nature. Yet, our warriors had bravely and passion, so forward they forged.

Many were there if only as spectators. You know big wigs and stuff. No naming names but few could miss what Stanchart had prepared. No naming names.

Still, our warriors were at it; moving further away from the warm embrace of loving hands and closer to a harsher reality.

And gallons of adrenaline, determination and the strength of an army. Or better still, an A Team, those commando men and women; the kind of team that is always a breeze to work with.

A humongous obstacle rose before them. A huge, huge rock of cold. Name is Everest, or rather Mt. Everest. It has been resting there forever. Moreover, it is cold. Too cold. It is waaay higher than you can imagine. You have to see it to believe.

Sharp rock, shingles, steep slopes, snow and slippery everything.

But our warriors were fearless. Yes they were. The rock, the cold and the harsh environment were just all part of it.

I really have been away too long. I hope this dust doesn't make my allergies act up.

So how are you people? Been well? Getting into all sorts of delightful and delicious mischief? I hope so..life is far too short to spend being strait laced.

Me? I've been good. Actually, I have been more than good. I've been amazing. Perhaps I should explain that.

Actually..no. Mainly because there really isn't much to tell.

Twitter killed the blogging mojo. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Perhaps it's because I never have to think through an idea to it's myriad possible conclusions. Or that by tweeting jokes and inanities, i have built a sizable following who can count on me for light entertainment and moments of mirth. And it didn't really matter to me either...it was all in fun you see. It's never that serious.

Until it is.

It seems that corporates and other bodies interested in getting 'aye-balls' to their products have been tracking the top tweeps social media chaps and chappettes. They follow their engagement with their followers .note the influence these near mystical beings seem to have on a diverse crowd...

Needless to say, the corporates want in.

And I want them in as well. My motives? Mostly financial. Let's look at Psy for example:

I'm dropping my next big hit! It shall be huge!

Gangnam Style made the chap about 8.8 million dollars. DORRAS People! All from a silly dance and a catchy tune.

I'm up for learning that. And the first opportunity just hit my inbox.

The folks at Stanchart are launching their new mobile money solution named Breeze.

The Pitch: Two intrepid mountaineers are currently on their way up Mount Everest. Once up there, they will attempt to make the world's highest mobile money transaction (Eat your heart out MPESA!) using breeze.

The payout: Well...this is where it gets interesting. First: There's no cash. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Naesting. Iz bi....well you get the picture. What there IS though are 3 phones up for grabs. An Iphone 5 (Everest edition) and 2 blackberry Z10's.

It gets more interesting. Only 10 people Big wigs bloggers have been selected to participate. And I'm one of them.

I won't lie to you people: This is a crazy undertaking.

Their Wigs

My wig. That's right. I'm a baller. In every sense

They have an army. A couple of them have foller numbers that are 20 times my size. Power to them. But I don't need an army.

I need a commando unit. A team I can count on that influences other small teams to make a big thing happen. And the team will have just one goal: To make sure the link above has the highest number of clicks by the end of the month.

What's in it for you I hear you ask?

Well...

How about this: I'm just getting started in learning all about online marketing and influence. This is the second campaign I'm getting involved in. Regardless of how this campaign works out, if you are a demonstration of commitment and can-do focus, then I want you on my team. For the long term. Terms can of course be worked out depending on the nature of the assignment.

About Me

This is your afri-geek dude..technophile that truly and soulfully believes that tech and its potential to change lives in Africa. I've been on a journey to discover what my contribution to this reality is.